Despite this, 20 per cent of women didn't take up their invitation for cervical smear tests last year. In addition, only 50 per cent of the girls offered the HPV vaccine have chosen to have this potentially life-saving jab.

We look at the issues surrounding the vaccine.

Cervical cancer and HPV

Cervical cancer is a disease that causes distress to thousands of women and their families. Every year around a 1,000 lives are lost, with many other women faced with potentially traumatic treatment and sometimes surgery.

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Around 99.7 per cent of cervical cancer cases are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is transmitted during sexual activity.

But with a new vaccine on the market, the future should present a far better outlook – with cancer charities hoping the rates of cervical cancer can be significantly reduced.

So what has all the controversy been about?

What is HPV?

HPV is a common virus that affects the skin and moist membranes in the body and is passed on through contact with an affected person.

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There are around 100 different strains of HPV, with around 40 affecting the genital area. Other strains of HPV affect other areas of the body, such as the mouth and throat.

Seventeen strains of HPV are related to cervical cancer. These are among the high-risk strains of HPV. Low-risk strains – including those affecting the genital areas – can lead to verrucas, warts and genital warts.

'Around 75 per cent of women will catch the HPV virus at some point in their lives. For the majority of these women, their immune system will get rid of it,' says Robert Music, Director of Jo's Trust, a charity dedicated to women affected by pre-cancer and cancer of the cervix.

'For a small percentage of women, the virus may stay in their bodies much longer, possibly leading to abnormalities that can develop into cervical cancer,' he says.

Both protect against the HPV strains 16 and 18 that cause most cases (70 per cent) of cervical cancer. The Gardasil vaccine also protects against strains that lead to genital warts.

Since September 2008, an HPV immunisation programme has been offered to 12- to 13-year-old and 17- to 18-year-old girls. This consists of a course of three vaccinations being administered over a six-month period.

A catch-up programme was also announced at this time with 13- to 18-year-old girls being offered the vaccine over the following two academic years.

What's the controversy?

Since the introduction of the vaccine, several newspaper headlines have questioned the link between the HPV vaccine and symptoms reported by some girls, after having the jab.

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Some of these symptoms have been reported as severe and debilitating.

In September 2009, a 14-year-old girl died shortly after being given the cervical cancer vaccine, leading to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recalling the batch of vaccinations from which she had been given her injection.

But it was later discovered that the young girl had underlying health problems and died of a tumour in her chest.

According to an MHRA report, there have been 3,027 reports of adverse side-effects and 6,940 suspected reactions. But these include many of the lesser symptoms, such as pain at the injection site.

The campaigning group Jabs say they have spoken to parents in around 18 cases, who are worried about the illnesses their daughters have developed.

'If you're vaccinating a large number of people, by coincidence other things will happen at the same time,' says Dr Anne Szarewski, clinical consultant for Cancer Research UK, and a leading expert in cervical cancer.

'This is especially the case when you're looking at such a large figure – around 1.4 million have been vaccinated. So, by the time you have vaccinated them, you're bound to have all sorts of things that happen at the same time,' she says.

Elsewhere, a small number of religious groups have questioned whether having the cervical cancer vaccine will lead to promiscuity. In the US, there's only been a 25 per cent uptake of the vaccination. However, contray to this, studies have shown that the cervical cancer vaccination makes girls think twice about having sex.

'The vaccine has been thoroughly researched, and Jo's Trust believes it's an important programme that could save up to 400 lives a year,' says Robert Music.

'Over a number of years that becomes thousands,' he says.

Who else should take the vaccine?

Since HPV is caught through sexual activity, the vaccination programme hopes to catch the majority of girls before they become sexually active.

But given the nature of the HPV, it makes sense to have the vaccine at any age. Currently the vaccine is available privately and from Boots the chemist.

'It's never too late to get the vaccine,' says Dr Anne Szarewski. 'You can catch HPV at anytime in your life, especially with the pattern of changes that are now taking place in people's lives, such as people meeting new partners in their 40s and 50s. So it's never too late to have the vaccine.

'The other thing is, even if you catch it and develop a natural immunity, it's likely to be so poor that you get affected again by the same strain.

'And if you have had a strain of HPV previously, and your body's developed some antibodies, the vaccine is thought to act as a booster. The only time it won't help is if you have an ongoing HPV infection,' she says.

There's also an ongoing debate about whether the cervical cancer vaccine should be given to boys.

Cervical screening

The important thing to remember is: even if you have had the HPV vaccine, it's vital to still attend cervical screening.

The cervical cancer vaccine only protects against two strains of HPV (16 and 18) – the most common causes of cervical cancer. But the vaccine doesn't protect against all cervical cancers. Worryingly, rates of attendance for cervical screening are dipping.

'Around 1 in 3 women aged 25 to 34 are not taking up their invitation. It's important to get the message across that women should go for a smear test because it's a programme that can save lives,' says Robert Music.

'Even if you have been vaccinated, you should attend cervical screening. Some young women may think because they have been vaccinated against HPV, they don't need to have a smear test.

'But it's important that they do because the vaccine only protects against 70 per cent of HPV strains,' he says.

What else can you do?

As well as regular smear tests, a healthy immune system can help combat HPV, as can giving up smoking.

Smoking has been shown to double the risk of HPV.

'Wearing a condom may also help, but that's not necessarily going to be 100 per cent effective,' says Robert Music.

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